TUSCALOOSA CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION DISTRICT 6: Lucas cites his progress, Lollar urges new leadership

By Ed EnochStaff Writer

Published: Saturday, August 24, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, August 24, 2013 at 12:09 a.m.

Tuscaloosa City Board of Education District 6 incumbent Marvin Lucas says he is the best candidate to continue efforts to improve the system, while challenger John Lollar says the board needs new leadership that acts more quickly on important issues.

Facts

JOHN LOLLARBirthdate: April 27,1949Birthplace: BerryEducation: Livingston University, Alabama School of Banking and Louisiana State University's Graduate School of Banking of the SouthOccupation: Robertson Banking Co. vice president and business bankerOther employment history: Colonial Bank, 2006-10; Southtrust Bank, 1995-2006; AmSouth Bank, 1988-95; First National Bank of Tuscaloosa 1974-88Political background: NoneWebsite/email address: www.johnlollar.com; johnplollar@gmail.com

Voters will decide who will represent the district during an election on Tuesday. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Both candidates say Tuscaloosa City Schools must continue work to improve its 71 percent graduation rate and student performances as it works to become one of the premier systems in the state.

Lucas, a 51-year-old employee of DCH Regional Medical Center, said he is running for re-election to continue the progress begun during his tenure on the board, adding that the system under Superintendent Paul McKendrick and his staff has laid a foundation to be among the most successful in the state and country.

“We must continue this movement to the top. Our work is not done,” Lucas said.

Lucas previously touted the hiring of McKendrick, the implementation of the STEAM program at University Place Elementary School and the construction of the Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy among the achievements of the board.

Lucas, who has held the seat since 2009 and has a teenage daughter attending school in the system, noted his experience on the PTA at the local, state and national level.

“I am the best candidate because I am the people's candidate,” Lucas wrote in an email. “I have been and will be there for them, in the schools, at their events and functions, and in the community.”

Lollar said he believes his previous experience as a parent with children in city schools helps him understand the system, while the financial and personal skills developed during his banking career have prepared him to be a board member who can make rational and timely decisions.

Lollar, vice president and business banker at Robertson Banking Co., says the current board has been indecisive at times and allowed decisions to be delayed too long.

“There have been some issues that probably took way too long for final decisions to be made,” Lollar said. “There is a lot of discussion that went on way too long.”

Lollar did not provide specific examples, casting his comments as a general observation.

In the future, both men say they would like to see community stakeholders — including parents, teachers and administrators and the business community — more involved in student's education in the future.

If elected, Lollar said he would like to improve the system as a workplace for employees in an effort to increase their investment and the sense that their voices and opinions are heard.

“I feel there is a real disconnect out there. The teachers and principals I have spoken with have voiced their concern,” Lollar said. “It's not universal, but there is definitely enough of it that I am concerned about it.”

Lollar, who said he would research the current state of the system if elected to see how best to implement his goals and find new resources, also called for more pre-kindergarten options.

“I think the early years of a child's schooling are critical to how they achieve throughout,” he said.

Lollar said he would also like to see more programs to keep higher-achievers motivated and provide resources and support for students who are academically at risk.

Lucas said the system needs to continue its work to make sure its schools meet and exceed achievements goals, whether state or national and continue its focus on graduating students who are career and college ready.

Reach Ed Enoch at ed.enoch@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0209.

the progress begun during his tenure on the board, adding that the system under Superintendent Paul McKendrick and his staff has laid a foundation to be among the most successful in the state and country.

“We must continue this movement to the top. Our work is not done,” Lucas said.

Lucas previously touted the hiring of McKendrick, the implementation of the STEAM program at University Place Elementary School and the construction of the Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy among the achievements of the board.

Lucas, who has held the seat since 2009 and has a teenage daughter attending school in the system, noted his experience on the PTA at the local, state and national level.

“I am the best candidate because I am the people's candidate,” Lucas wrote in an email. “I have been and will be there for them, in the schools, at their events and functions, and in the community.”

Lollar said he believes his previous experience as a parent with children in city schools helps him understand the system, while the financial and personal skills developed during his banking career have prepared him to be a board member who can make rational and timely decisions.

Lollar, vice president and business banker at Robertson Banking Co., says the current board has been indecisive at times and allowed decisions to be delayed too long.

“There have been some issues that probably took way too long for final decisions to be made,” Lollar said. “There is a lot of discussion that went on way too long.”

Lollar did not provide specific examples, casting his comments as a general observation.

In the future, both men say they would like to see community stakeholders — including parents, teachers and administrators and the business community — more involved in student's education in the future.

If elected, Lollar said he would like to improve the system as a workplace for employees in an effort to increase their investment and the sense that their voices and opinions are heard.

“I feel there is a real disconnect out there. The teachers and principals I have spoken with have voiced their concern,” Lollar said. “It's not universal, but there is definitely enough of it that I am concerned about it.”

Lollar, who said he would research the current state of the system if elected to see how best to implement his goals and find new resources, also called for more pre-kindergarten options.

“I think the early years of a child's schooling are critical to how they achieve throughout,” he said.

Lollar said he would also like to see more programs to keep higher-achievers motivated and provide resources and support for students who are academically at risk.

Lucas said the system needs to continue its work to make sure its schools meet and exceed achievements goals, whether state or national and continue its focus on graduating students who are career and college ready.

<p>Tuscaloosa City Board of Education District 6 incumbent Marvin Lucas says he is the best candidate to continue efforts to improve the system, while challenger John Lollar says the board needs new leadership that acts more quickly on important issues. </p><p>Voters will decide who will represent the district during an election on Tuesday. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.</p><p>Both candidates say Tuscaloosa City Schools must continue work to improve its 71 percent graduation rate and student performances as it works to become one of the premier systems in the state. </p><p>Lucas, a 51-year-old employee of DCH Regional Medical Center, said he is running for re-election to continue the progress begun during his tenure on the board, adding that the system under Superintendent Paul McKendrick and his staff has laid a foundation to be among the most successful in the state and country.</p><p>“We must continue this movement to the top. Our work is not done,” Lucas said.</p><p>Lucas previously touted the hiring of McKendrick, the implementation of the STEAM program at University Place Elementary School and the construction of the Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy among the achievements of the board. </p><p>Lucas, who has held the seat since 2009 and has a teenage daughter attending school in the system, noted his experience on the PTA at the local, state and national level.</p><p>“I am the best candidate because I am the people's candidate,” Lucas wrote in an email. “I have been and will be there for them, in the schools, at their events and functions, and in the community.”</p><p>Lollar said he believes his previous experience as a parent with children in city schools helps him understand the system, while the financial and personal skills developed during his banking career have prepared him to be a board member who can make rational and timely decisions.</p><p>Lollar, vice president and business banker at Robertson Banking Co., says the current board has been indecisive at times and allowed decisions to be delayed too long. </p><p>“There have been some issues that probably took way too long for final decisions to be made,” Lollar said. “There is a lot of discussion that went on way too long.”</p><p>Lollar did not provide specific examples, casting his comments as a general observation.</p><p>In the future, both men say they would like to see community stakeholders — including parents, teachers and administrators and the business community — more involved in student's education in the future. </p><p>If elected, Lollar said he would like to improve the system as a workplace for employees in an effort to increase their investment and the sense that their voices and opinions are heard. </p><p>“I feel there is a real disconnect out there. The teachers and principals I have spoken with have voiced their concern,” Lollar said. “It's not universal, but there is definitely enough of it that I am concerned about it.”</p><p>Lollar, who said he would research the current state of the system if elected to see how best to implement his goals and find new resources, also called for more pre-kindergarten options. </p><p>“I think the early years of a child's schooling are critical to how they achieve throughout,” he said. </p><p>Lollar said he would also like to see more programs to keep higher-achievers motivated and provide resources and support for students who are academically at risk. </p><p>Lucas said the system needs to continue its work to make sure its schools meet and exceed achievements goals, whether state or national and continue its focus on graduating students who are career and college ready. </p><p>Reach Ed Enoch at ed.enoch@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0209.</p><p>the progress begun during his tenure on the board, adding that the system under Superintendent Paul McKendrick and his staff has laid a foundation to be among the most successful in the state and country.</p><p>“We must continue this movement to the top. Our work is not done,” Lucas said.</p><p>Lucas previously touted the hiring of McKendrick, the implementation of the STEAM program at University Place Elementary School and the construction of the Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy among the achievements of the board. </p><p>Lucas, who has held the seat since 2009 and has a teenage daughter attending school in the system, noted his experience on the PTA at the local, state and national level.</p><p>“I am the best candidate because I am the people's candidate,” Lucas wrote in an email. “I have been and will be there for them, in the schools, at their events and functions, and in the community.”</p><p>Lollar said he believes his previous experience as a parent with children in city schools helps him understand the system, while the financial and personal skills developed during his banking career have prepared him to be a board member who can make rational and timely decisions.</p><p>Lollar, vice president and business banker at Robertson Banking Co., says the current board has been indecisive at times and allowed decisions to be delayed too long. </p><p>“There have been some issues that probably took way too long for final decisions to be made,” Lollar said. “There is a lot of discussion that went on way too long.”</p><p>Lollar did not provide specific examples, casting his comments as a general observation.</p><p>In the future, both men say they would like to see community stakeholders — including parents, teachers and administrators and the business community — more involved in student's education in the future. </p><p>If elected, Lollar said he would like to improve the system as a workplace for employees in an effort to increase their investment and the sense that their voices and opinions are heard. </p><p>“I feel there is a real disconnect out there. The teachers and principals I have spoken with have voiced their concern,” Lollar said. “It's not universal, but there is definitely enough of it that I am concerned about it.”</p><p>Lollar, who said he would research the current state of the system if elected to see how best to implement his goals and find new resources, also called for more pre-kindergarten options. </p><p>“I think the early years of a child's schooling are critical to how they achieve throughout,” he said. </p><p>Lollar said he would also like to see more programs to keep higher-achievers motivated and provide resources and support for students who are academically at risk. </p><p>Lucas said the system needs to continue its work to make sure its schools meet and exceed achievements goals, whether state or national and continue its focus on graduating students who are career and college ready. </p><p>Reach Ed Enoch at ed.enoch@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0209.</p>